Cantina del Pino Dolcetto d’Alba 2021 from Barbaresco in Piemonte is a joyful, dark‑fruited Italian red that nails the dolcetto brief – generous fruit, savoury interest and proper table‑wine drinkability in one very tidy package. This Cantina del Pino Dolcetto d’Alba 2021 comes from old vines on calcareous limestone overlooking the Barbaresco tower, bringing surprising depth and a subtle mineral edge.

In the glass it sits deep ruby‑purple with a fragrant rush of blueberry, black cherry, ripe plum and fresh summer berries, layered with accents of white pepper, clove, liquorice and a gentle floral lift. The palate is dry and medium‑bodied, packed with juicy black cherry, plum and blackberry wrapped in sleek, lightly grippy tannins, modest acidity and a moreish almond‑mineral finish. It’s a textbook Dolcetto d’Alba – all fruit and spice, no heaviness, designed to be poured generously.

Food‑wise this dolcetto is built for the mid‑week Italian table: tomato‑based pasta, wood‑fired pizza, grilled pork sausages or a simple bruschetta with tomato, basil and garlic all sing alongside it. It’s also brilliant with chickpeas and spinach, salumi, hard cheeses and even salmon carpaccio, where its gentle tannin and low acidity really shine. Serve it just cool of room temperature and let it flow – this is Piedmontese comfort wine at its best.